De Bromhead wins opening race of 2017

Henry De Bromhead finished 2016 by winning the final Grade 1 race, with Petit Mouchoir at Leopardstown on December 29, and today began the new year with a bang when winning the curtain-raiser David Flynn Building Contractors Maiden Hurdle at Tramore with Adreamstillalive (5/4f).

Ridden by David Mullins, the daughter of Flemensfirth improved on two recent runner-up outings when making all and in the process foiled a late gamble on the Charles Byrnes trained eight year newcomer Voiceofthekingdom (5/1 on track, to 13/8 second-favourite), by three lengths.

Afterwards De Bromhead stated “I'm delighted for her owners the Darmody's from Mullinavat as it has taken us a while to get there.

“She is a big mare and it's great that she has won. She's got a good pedigree but has had a few problems over the years so I'm delighted she has won. She will be a really nice chaser next year and David gave her a super ride and it's nice to start the year off with that."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy